HC Deb 09 January 1978 vol 941 cc644-7W
Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of home workers in Great Britain.

Mr. John Grant

No reliable estimate of the total is available but between 25,000 and 30,000 are estimated to be covered by wages councils.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the main industries which use home workers and give the average wage paid in each industry for both home workers and those who work in factories.

Mr. John Grant

Home working is found in the following industries covered by wages councils, where at least statutory minimum remuneration must be paid. Comparable information is not available for industries outside the wages councils sector. No statistics are available on earnings of home workers.

  • Button Manufacture.
  • Corset.
  • Dressmaking and Women's Light Clothing.
  • Hat, Cap and Millinery.
  • Lace Finishing.
  • Linen and Cotton Handkerchief.
  • Made-up Textiles.
  • Ostrich and Fancy Feather and Artificial Flower.
  • Perambulator.
  • Pin, Hook and Eye and Snap Fastener.
  • Read-made and Wholesale Bespoke Tailoring.
  • Retail Bespoke Tailoring.
  • Rubber-proofed Garment Making.
  • Shirtmaking.
  • Rope, Twine and Net.
  • Sack and Bag.
  • Toy Manufacturing.
  • Wholesale Mantle and Costume.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many home workers are women, disabled, and immigrants, respectively.

Mr. John Grant

I regret that the information is not available, and could not be obtained except at disproportionate expense.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the operation of the Factories Act 1961 as regards provision for registering home workers; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Grant

Neither I nor the Health and Safety Commission is satisfied with the operation of Section 133 of the Factories Act. In August 1976 the Health and Safety Commission published a consultative document which contained proposals for revised registration requirements for home workers. I understand that many comments were received and that the Commission will shortly be considering revised proposals, after which draft regulations will be prepared and issued for further comment.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers have been prosecuted in each of the past 10 years for failing to meet the provisions of the Factories Act 1961 concerning home workers.

Mr. John Grant

I understand from the Health and Safety Executive that records are maintained by the Factory Inspectorate only for the past five years. During that period no employers were prosecuted by the Inspectorate for failing to meet the provisions of the Factories Act concerning home workers.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of registered home workers was visited by wages inspectors in each of the past 10 years.

Mr. John Grant

Following is the number of home workers whose wages were examined by wages inspectors:

1967 2,417
1968 2,476
1969 3,563
1970 3,305
1971 2,914
1972 2,378
1973 2,606
1974 3,056
1975 3,440
1976 1,134

It is not know what proportion those figures represent of the total number of home workers, since the latter figure is not available.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what study he has made of piece rates and wage rates of home workers; and if he will now institute a Departmental inquiry into the matter.

Mr. John Grant

I am awaiting ACAS reports on two wages council industries where significant home working is found before considering what further steps can be taken.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that wages councils pay sufficient attention to the problems of home workers.

Mr. John Grant

Wages councils are independent statutory bodies which make their own wages orders. I have no reason to think that, in general, they pay insufficient attention to the problems of home workers.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he is taking to change the statutory minimum rates for home workers.

Mr. John Grant

Statutory minimum rates are laid down by wages councils, which are independent statutory bodies making their own wages orders. I have no power to direct them as to the level of remuneration they fix.